On Thursday, August 10, the patronal feast day of Our Lady of Smolensk Church in Jackson’s Point, ON, Canada – which this year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the parish’s founding – the blessing of the cornerstone of a future chapel dedicated to the Holy Royal Martyrs & Passionbearers was performed.

The celebrations in honor of the feast were led by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, co-served by His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada.

The chapel project was initiated by parish rector Priest Maxim Abroskin, as well as an active group of parishioners. Construction is due to be completed in 2018, in time to mark the centennial of the martyric death of the Royal Family.